Which makes the question about who is to lead Nintendo now so scary- these are turbulent times for Nintendo, and a strong leader with a cohesive vision is needed, someone like Iwata, who also understands the intangibles of Nintendo, rather than just looking at business problems. The trouble is, not many such people exist.

Miyamoto, of course, has not commented on any such rumors and speculation- it would be too soon. That said, he did comment on the passing of his friend and colleague, Satoru Iwata.

“I am surprised at this sudden news and overcome with sadness,” Mr. Miyamoto said in a statement issued through the company on Monday. “The entire development team at Nintendo will remain committed to our development policy which Mr. Iwata and we have been constructing together and to yield the development results which Mr. Iwata would appreciate.”

It tells us a lot about just how strong and effective a leader Iwata was, that even after his death, the company is committed to largely following the roadmap he set for them.